Peter Pan site creditors could claim £3.5m

Creditors of a belief that operated the mansion that helped encourage the Peter Pan story could search to claw again greater than £3.5m.

The youngsters’s literature centre at Moat Brae in Dumfries closed its doorways in August with poor customer numbers and diminished funding help being blamed.

A liquidators report on the Peter Pan Moat Brae Trust (PPMBT) has discovered 4 secured creditors maintain normal safety over the property.

It stated that they could search to “claw back” grant funding beforehand superior which runs to hundreds of thousands of kilos.

Moat Brae, the place JM Barrie performed as a toddler, was pressured to shut in August – about 5 years after its opening as a customer centre.

It acquired backing from a variety of organisations for its redevelopment.

The report by liquidators Interpath lists the National Heritage Memorial Fund, Creative Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway Council as secured creditors who could claim hundreds of thousands of kilos.

However, even when they achieve this, any quantity they acquired would come from the sale of property – the most important of which is Moat Brae itself – minus any prices.

Liquidators stated it was not attainable to estimate how a lot they could obtain or after they may get it.

They have additionally listed different smaller creditors together with former workers on the site.

It has been estimated that their claims could quantity to about £2,100 however they’re “unlikely” to obtain any dividend.

Similarly a spread of unsecured creditors – with potential claims of about £23,000 between them – are “highly unlikely” to see any payout.

They embody the likes of vitality suppliers, cleansing corporations and CCTV upkeep contractors.

Liquidator prices themselves have already run to almost £50,000.

Meanwhile, the destiny of the constructing itself stays unclear.

It was marketed on the market by Shepherd Chartered Surveyors with a deadline for presents on 3 October.

They have failed to offer any replace on the variety of bids acquired or the stage they’re at.

However, various organisations and people have dominated themselves out.

The Crichton Trust stated it was “deeply saddened” by the closure however confirmed it had not bid for the property.

A spokesman for Prof David Thomson and Teresa Church – who personal and run various historic properties within the area – additionally stated they might not make a proposal.

Community group The People’s Project stated it didn’t have the funding wanted.

South of Scotland Enterprise was additionally requested if it will be stepping in to avoid wasting the constructing.

It stated it continued to work with “key partners” to have a look at how the “significant building” could be utilized by the group.